Career and Education Opportunities for Foresters in Santa Clarita, California

There are many career and education opportunities for foresters in the Santa Clarita, California area. There are currently 1,100 working foresters in California; this should grow 27% to about 1,400 working foresters in the state by 2016. This is better than the national trend for foresters, which sees this job pool growing by about 12.1% over the next eight years. Foresters generally manage forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes.

Income for foresters is about $30 hourly or $64,350 yearly on average in California. Nationally, their income is about $25 per hour or $53,750 annually. Earnings for foresters are not quite as good as earnings in the general category of Life Sciences in California and not quite as good as general Life Sciences category earnings nationally. People working as foresters can fill a number of jobs, such as: forestry consultant, forestry technician, and service forester.

There are 210 schools of higher education in the Santa Clarita area, including three within twenty-five miles of Santa Clarita where you can get a degree to start your career as a forester. Foresters usually hold a Bachelor's degree, so you can expect to spend about four years studying to be a forester if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Forester

Forester video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, foresters manage forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. They also may inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement.

Foresters monitor contract compliance and results of forestry efforts to assure adherence to government regulations. They also direct, and participate in, forest-fire suppression. Equally important, foresters have to establish short- and long-term plans for management of forest lands and forest resources. They are often called upon to supervise efforts of other forestry staff. They are expected to formulate and implement projects for conservation of wildlife habitats and soil and water quality. Finally, foresters conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.

Every day, foresters are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to evaluate problems as they arise. It is also important that they listen to and understand others in meetings.

It is important for foresters to map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth. They are often called upon to negotiate terms and conditions of agreements and contracts for forest harvesting, forest management and leasing of forest lands. They also decide on methods of cutting and removing timber with minimum waste and environmental damage. They are sometimes expected to study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects. Somewhat less frequently, foresters are also expected to contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type and location of all standing timber on the property.

Foresters sometimes are asked to design techniques for measuring and identifying trees. and procure timber from private landowners. And finally, they sometimes have to monitor contract compliance and results of forestry efforts to assure adherence to government regulations.

Like many other jobs, foresters must believe in cooperation and coordination and be able to work independently and make decisions on their own.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Santa Clarita include:

Biological Sciences Technician. Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.

Biologist. Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, and functions.

Environmental Health and Safety Specialist. Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or the health of the population. Utilizing knowledge of various scientific disciplines may collect, synthesize, and take action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, and other sources.

Epidemiologist. Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, and other health outcomes and develop the means for prevention and control.

Food Technologist. Use chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, and distribute food.

Geographic Information Systems Analyst. Study nature and use of areas of earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global.

Medical Scientist. Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation or other research, production, or related activities.

Microbiologist. Investigate the growth, structure, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.

Natural Resource Manager. Research or study range land management practices to provide sustained production of forage, livestock, and wildlife.

Park Ranger. Plan, develop, and conduct programs to inform public of historical, natural, and scientific features of national, state, or local park.

Scientist. Study the chemical composition and physical principles of living cells and organisms, their electrical and mechanical energy, and related phenomena. May conduct research to further understanding of the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, and heredity. May determine the effects of foods, drugs, and other substances on tissues and vital processes of living organisms.

Soil Conservation Technician. Plan and develop coordinated practices for soil erosion control, soil and water conservation, and sound land use.

Soil Scientist. Conduct research in breeding, physiology, and management of crops and agricultural plants, their growth in soils, and control of pests; or study the chemical, physical, and mineralogical composition of soils as they relate to plant or crop growth. May classify and map soils and investigate effects of alternative practices on soil and crop productivity.

Zoologist. Study the origins, behavior, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management, including the collection and analysis of biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water areas.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Forester Training

Los Angeles Pierce College - Woodland Hills, CA

Los Angeles Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91371-0002. Los Angeles Pierce College is a large college located in Woodland Hills, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 21,832 students. Los Angeles Pierce College has an associate's degree program in Natural Resources/Conservation.

Citrus College - Glendora, CA

Citrus College, 1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora, CA 91741-1899. Citrus College is a large college located in Glendora, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 13,501 students. Citrus College has a less than one year and a two to four year program in Forestry which graduated seven and zero students respectively in 2008.

Cerritos College - Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College, 11110 Alondra Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650-6298. Cerritos College is a large college located in Norwalk, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 22,228 students. Cerritos College has an associate's degree program in Forestry.

CERTIFICATIONS

Arborist / Municipal Specialist:
This credential was developed by the ISA and the Society of Municipal Arboriculture for those involved in managing the complex aspect of trees in an urban environment.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita, California photo by Guillaume h

Santa Clarita is situated in Los Angeles County, California. It has a population of over 169,500, which has grown by 12.2% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Santa Clarita, 137, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in Santa Clarita are valued at $396,800 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, one hundred ten new homes were built in Santa Clarita, down from one hundred ninety-eight the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Santa Clarita are educational services, health care, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, professional, scientific, and technical services, and public administration. The average travel time to work is about 33 minutes. More than 29.1% of Santa Clarita residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 8.8%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Santa Clarita is 7.8%, which is less than California's average of 12.3%.

The percentage of Santa Clarita residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 58.1%, is more than both the national and state average. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the LDS (Mormon) Church.

Santa Clarita is home to the Monogram Ranch and the Placeritos Ranch as well as William S Hart Park and Almendra Park. Shopping centers in the area include River Oaks Shopping Center, Granary Square Shopping Center and Lyons Station Shopping Center.